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Our watchdog team stands up for the interests of consumers

For more than 40 years, we’ve been educating consumers about how to protect themselves and their rights. We work to get dangerous products off store shelves, to end exploitative practices, and ensure a level playing field in the marketplace. And we advocate for new rules, institutions and policies to defend consumers from the economic and political power of special interests. Right now, our Watchdog team is focused on consumer threats from data breaches to dangerous toys.

CONSUMER ALERT

Asbestos In Makeup

Independent lab results confirm that makeup sold at Claire’s retail stores across the country is contaminated with asbestos, which causes cancer. We’re calling on Claire’s to immediately recall the contaminated makeup products, and to investigate how those products became contaminated with asbestos. We’re also calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regularly test makeup for asbestos contamination, especially products that contain talc. Learn more.

CONSUMER ALERT

Equifax Data Breach

Equifax lost the critical financial data of more than 147 million Americans. We’re working to make sure that Equifax is held accountable. We’re also working in Congress, and in six state capitols to pass laws that will protect consumers from identity theft by providing free freezes on their credit reports. Learn more.

CONSUMER ALERT

Unsafe Children's Products

Our research uncovered fidget spinners sold at Target that had up to 300 times the legal limit for lead in children's products. Target has agreed to stop selling these fidget spinners, but we’re pushing for Target and the toys' manufacturer to issue a full recall. We also uncovered a data-collecting doll that could put children's privacy at risk, and a list of previously recalled toys that continue to pose a risks to children in their homes. Learn more.

CarMax Selling Defective Cars

CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles, is selling recalled vehicles that contain dangerous safety defects and endanger the lives of drivers, passengers and everyone else who shares the roads. We’re calling on the auto dealer to stop selling vehicles with known safety defects. Learn more.

A Free And Open Internet

New rules by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will effectively end net neutrality. This would allow some companies or internet service providers to decide what information you can access, or give an unfair market advantage to certain products or services. Learn more.

Monitoring Big Data

We don’t hire data collectors to stockpile critical information about our personal lives, but it’s happening every day, and it’s big business. Our researchers monitor the big data dealers to ensure they manage our personal information responsibly, and we’re pushing for new rules that will hold them accountable if they don’t.

Lately, the Trump administration has been cutting back on vital programs that act as a safety net for consumers. Meanwhile, new products, services and technologies are being introduced into the marketplace every day. Our watchdog work has never been more important.

With the support of our members we are able to:

• Identify emerging threats to consumers, and thoroughly research impacts, solutions and alternatives.

• Get critical information out through our consumer alerts, so consumers can protect themselves and their families.

• Our lawyers, researchers and experts often can work directly with a company, agency or service provider and get them to act in their customers' best interest. When that’s not possible, our team uses the power of the media and consumer pressure to bring about change.

• Our advocates operate in State Houses, City Halls, boardrooms and in Congress, pushing for stronger consumer protections, and, more recently, vigorously defending the vital protections we already have.

More Than 40 Years Of Protection

U.S. PIRG has been working to protect consumers for more than four decades. Protections many of us take for granted, including:

more than 150 unsafe toys recalled;

identity theft protections in 49 states;

more effective and affordable prescription drugs;

the nation's first Lemon Laws; and

an airline passengers Bill of Rights.

Our consumer protection work is only made possible by supporters like you. Sign up for our consumer updates and alerts so you can stay informed on the latest product safety recalls, marketplace threats and other consumer safety issues. And you can support more independent research and testing by making a donation today.

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